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PSC Agrexco Summer 2007 Callout

PSC | 04.07.2008 13:27 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | World

Summer 2007 Callout

Carmel Agrexco Summer Fruits Campaign

Summer 2008 Callout
BOYCOTT ISRAELI GOODS BOYCOTT CARMEL-AGREXCO

Summer Fruits Campaign

View the leaflet for the Campaign here

Agrexco are a 50% state owned Israeli company who export fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs from Israel and the occupied territories. Agrexco are one of the three biggest Israeli companies exporting from occupied Palestine and account for 70% of exports of fresh produce from the occupied territories. Agrexco operate under the Carmel, Jaffa and Coral brand names. Their products are bought by all major British supermarkets as well as small stores. Britain is an important market for Agrexco accounting for 60% of their imports to Europe. It is likely that Agrexco often mislabel their settlement produce as made in Israel when it is in fact made on occupied Palestinian land. Thousands of Palestinians are employed in packing houses on Israeli settlements packing goods to be exported by Carmel Agrexco. These packing houses are often on land which has been forcibly taken from their communities Palestinian workers may be paid as little as 30 shekels (4 pounds) a day and have no sick pay, holiday pay, rights to unionise or contracts. Children are often employed on these settlements. These workers are compelled to work for the settlements because of the complete strangulation of Palestinian agriculture by the Israeli occupation. Many settlement workers have called on the international community to boycott and campaign against Carmel Agrexco. During the Summer Carmel Agrexco import large quantities of oranges, lemons, Galia melons, grapefruit, grapes and strawberries into the UK as well as luxury products like dragonfruit. Cherry tomatoes and peppers are also imported in large quantities during July and August. Here are some ideas of what you could do:

Highlight the need to boycott these products locally, on your weekly stall

Write to or visit local stores (supermarkets or smaller shops), make the argument against Agrexco produce and raise awareness of what products and brand names to avoid

Hold demonstrations, pickets or street theatre outside shops selling Agrexco goods

Contact local Trade Union branches and educate them about Carmel Agrexco products

Hold shopping trolley actions - load up your trolley with Agrexco products, bring it to the checkout and then tell the cashier/manager why you are not buying each of the products

Email  info@palestinecampaign.org to let us know about your branches activities. Also why not post your reports at www.indymedia.org.uk. See www.bigcampaign.org and www.palestinecampaign.org for more information and for updates.

PSC